UTC eNews Week 12

The end of semester is upon us!  Thanks to all who have made the session work so well, from the front office staff to lecturers and indeed to students who participated with vigour and passion.  And a reminder: enroll for next session asap.

FROM THE ACADEMIC DESK

This Friday is the last of our research seminars for the session. 

Room G4

10:00-10:45 Brett Gallagher, “Exploring a political reading of Paul within the context of Roman Corinth”

10:45-11:30 Kyounghee Cho, “Mary for the 21^st Century: Literary Reading on Mary, the Mother of Jesus in Luke Ch. 1”

11:30-11:45 Break

11:45-12:45 John Williams, ‘Faith and the Flourishing of All’ (PhD Thesis Proposal)

FROM THE FACULTY

Please note that Stephen Burns is preparing to leave UTC to take up a new position at Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He will have further news about timescales as visa and immigration processes progress.

Stephen has just published two books: Worship and Ministry: Shaped Towards God (Mosaic Press) and Pilgrim People: An Invitation to Worship in the Uniting Church (MediaCom).

FROM THE CHAPEL

The college held a service of Word and Sacrament today at 11.45. This week’s lectionary: Trinity Sunday – Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17

FROM STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

Please note that the student admin office will be closed on Fridays 8^th and 15^th June for admin training.

Please enrol in your subjects for second session now, as the College is formulating class rolls and need to know class numbers for any timetable changes. If you require help with subject selection, please see Renee or Joanne, who can direct you to the relevant subject coordinator.

FROM THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Wednesday Community Lunches are held after the 11.45 Communion Service. Lunch is approx 1pm. Everyone is welcome to join students and staff in this activity. The cost is $40 per semester payable to John Barker, the treasurer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meditation is held in G2 at 1.00pm on Thursdays when classes are on.

Climate Commission – Wednesday 6 June, 7.00pm in the auditorium – Chief Climate Commissioner Tim Flannery and Climate Commissioner Lesley Hughes will be speaking at a forum to consider “Perceptions on Climate Change”. Please come along and let anyone know who may be interested.

ADVERTISING

Colloquium: the Australian & New Zealand Theological Review are calling for contributors. To be considered for inclusion in the November 2012 issue of Colloquium, articles must be submitted by 15 July 2012. For further details, please contact the College Secretary.

POSITION VACANT

Social Policy Officer – 4 days a week: Baptcare is a leading not for profit organisation that provides holistic and individually tailored care solutions to the elderly, families, children, people living with a disability, as well as asylum seekers. Baptcare have an exciting new social policy role located in the Mission Development division. The primary objective of this position is to develop and communicate Baptcare’s theological approach to social policy issues in consultation with the Director of Research and Community Engagement & Advocacy Coordinator. Applications close 9am Tuesday 12 June 2012. For more information www.baptcare.org.au/work/vacancies/Pages/default.aspx . Enquiries to Ilsa Hampton ihampton@baptcare.org.au ph 0425 758 277.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Our weekly eNewsletter is also posted on our utcnews blog. To follow or subscribe go to http://utcnews.blogspot.com/

The newsletter is from the College Secretary and Academic Vice-Principal. News items in by 1.00 pm each Friday to: suzannec@nsw.uca.org.au or gerardm@nsw.uca.org.au

“Perceptions on Climate Change”

A community forum in discussion with

Chief Climate Commissioner Tim Flannery

and Climate Commissioner Lesley Hughes

Wednesday 6 June 2012, 7.00pm

At the Centre for Ministry Auditorium, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta

·        How does the issue of climate change interact with faith?

·        How should the church respond to climate change?

	Professor Tim Flannery, Australian of the Year in 2007, is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers. In 2007 Tim Flannery co-founded and was appointed Chair of The Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who have come together to confront climate change.
Professor Lesley Hughes is the Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University and an expert on the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. She is the Australian Representative on the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change, and Co-Convenor of the Terrestrial Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network. Professor Hughes was also a lead author for the UN’s IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, and a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Climate Change and Biodiversity for the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Department of Climate Change. Her research has been published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

This Community Forum is a joint venture of The Climate Commission,

The Uniting Church Parramatta Nepean Presbytery and United Theological College

All Welcome

For more information about the forum contact: David Reichardt 0419 164 329

Further information about the Climate Commission is available at http://www.climatecommission.gov.au/ 

                                                          

 

UTC eNews 201230 Week 11

With the term drawing to a close we hope all find quality learning amidst the completion of assessment tasks.

FROM THE ACADEMIC DESK

Please take up the option to evaluate each of your subjects.  The online evaluation forms are on your individual Interact site for each subject.  If you have difficulties finding them, please contact Itu.

FROM THE CHAPEL

The college holds a service of Word and Sacrament every Wednesday at 11.45.  All welcome. This week’s lectionary: Pentecost – Acts 2:1-21 or Ezek 37:1-14, Ps 104:24-34, 35b, Rom 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21, Jn 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (Red).

FROM STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

Please enrol in your subjects for second session now, as the College is formulating class rolls and need to know class numbers for any timetable changes. If you require help with subject selection, please see Renee or Joanne, who can direct you to the relevant subject coordinator.

FROM THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Thank you to those who attended the student meeting last Thursday. It was a good and fun time. As a student body we elected 7 new people onto student committees. So welcome Grant, David, Charissa, Seungjae, Hee, Henry and Brodey. Thank you to Bridget for being a representative on the CFM committee and Suzanne for being a representative on the CMF. It is wonderful having so many people involved in the life of the UTC community. We also agreed to the disbursement of chapel offerings from last year, and agreed to give chapel funds this year to Nungalinya Theological College in Darwin. And most importantly, thank you to Renee for ordering more pizzas for the night!!

We hope assignments are going well as the semester draws to a close. Hang in there ...... holidays are soooooooon.

Rosalie Clarke for the Student Exec. 

Wednesday Community Lunches are held after the 11.45 Communion Service. Lunch is approx 1pm. Everyone is welcome to join students and staff in this activity. The cost is $40 per semester payable to John Barker, the treasurer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meditation is held in G2 at 1.00pm on Thursdays when classes are on.

Research Seminars – this Friday 25 May, 1.30-5.00pm in G2/3 – all welcome. The following Research Students will present their Thesis proposals: Celeste Kumar, Johnny Kumar, Bec Lindsay, Tonga Pakofe, Nada Roude, Martin Schulzer.

Climate Commission – Wednesday 6 June, 7.00pm in the auditorium – Chief Climate Commissioner Tim Flannery and Climate Commissioner Lesley Hughes will be speaking at a forum to consider “Perceptions on Climate Change”. Please come along and let anyone you know who may be interested.

ADVERTISING

Colloquium: the Australian & New Zealand Theological Review are calling for contributors. To be considered for inclusion in the November 2012 issue of Colloquium, articles must be submitted by 15 July 2012. For further details, please contact the College Secretary.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Our weekly eNewsletter is also posted on our utcnews blog. To follow or subscribe go to http://utcnews.blogspot.com/

The newsletter is from the College Secretary and Academic Vice-Principal. News items in by 1.00 pm each Friday to: suzannec@nsw.uca.org.au or gerardm@nsw.uca.org.au

UTC eNews 201230 Week 10

Enrolling for session two! If possible, enrol soon for next semester!  This helps us efficiently and proficiently organise resources, books, handouts and the like.

FROM THE ACADEMIC DESK

Revised Bachelor of Theology degree

Over the last twelve months the BTh has been under review.  In 2013 a revised program will come into effect for student enrolling in 2013 and onwards!  Some of its features are as follows.  The new structure has no majors or minors.  There is a set group of eight 100 level subjects that are core in the program, allowing all students to be introduced to foundational experiences in Biblical Studies, Church History, Practical Theology and Systematic Theology.  All students will complete at least six subjects each in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology and will need to have up to six subjects at 300 level.  There is provision for students to complete a large number of subjects in any of Church History, Practical Theology or Biblical Languages.  The study skills subject COM120 is now included as a theological elective in the program.  Some new subjects have been added, while some current subjects have undergone a change of level, a rewrite or been deleted.

In all, the hope is that this will be a much less complicated structure which allows for an exposure to all four subdisciplines, depth in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology, and further specialisation in Biblical Languages, Practical Theology and Church History.

The changes will be accompanied by modifications to the assessment regimen, with a lot of emphasis placed on the building up of skills in the 100 level subjects.

Publications

Congratulations to:

Ruth Sheridan, our postdoctoral fellow, who has just had an article accepted in the Journal of Biblical Studies.

&

Jione Havea, “First people, Minority reading: Reading Jonah, from Oceania” in Roland Boer, Michael Carden & Julie Kelso (eds.), The one who reads may run. Fest. Edgar W. Conrad. London: Continuum, 2012 (pp. 176-185)

Recent presentations:

Keree Casey at Canberra

Cristina Gomez at Assisi, Italy

FROM THE DEAN OF CANDIDATES

Would you please remember to keep Nathaline Elsaliby and her family in your prayers. Nathaline’s mother is in hospital in Lebanon in a critical condition.

FROM THE CHAPEL

The college holds a service of Word and Sacrament every Wednesday at 11.45.  All welcome. This week’s lectionary: (Ascension Day) Acts 1:1-11, Ps 47 or Ps 93, Eph 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53. Please note that at Chapel this week, people will be invited to remove their shoes.

FROM STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

Please enrol in your subjects for second session now, as the College is formulating class rolls and need to know class numbers for any timetable changes. If you require help with subject selection, please see Renee or Joanne, who can direct you to the relevant subject coordinator.

FROM THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Full Student Meeting

The Student Association is having a meeting for all Students this Thursday 17 May at 5pm. Please come and find out more about what is happening on campus, and have your say in decisions that may affect you. We’d love to see you and we are aiming to order more pizza for the event! It would be great if you let someone know you are coming, or alternatively just turn up on the day. (Rosalie Clarke, Keun-Il Ko, Suzanne Stanton, John Barker, Paul Cosier)

Wednesday Community Lunches are held after the 11.45 Communion Service. Lunch is approx 1pm. Everyone is welcome to join students and staff in this activity. The cost is $40 per semester payable to John Barker, the treasurer.

FROM THE LIBRARY

Referencing using Microsoft Word Workshop: Come and join in a 30 minute workshop on how to use the advanced functions in Microsoft Word to help you reference correctly in APA style.  Workshops will be run by the Library and held each week until end of term in the Library Computer Room at 4.30pm Mondays and Thursdays.  Handout included.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meditation is held in G2 at 1.00pm on Thursdays when classes are on.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Our weekly eNewsletter is also posted on our utcnews blog. To follow or subscribe go to http://utcnews.blogspot.com/

The newsletter is from the College Secretary and Academic Vice-Principal. News items in by 1.00 pm each Friday to: suzannec@nsw.uca.org.au or gerardm@nsw.uca.org.au

UTC eNews 201230 Week 8

Lots of information this week!

FROM THE ACADEMIC DESK

Tackling plagiarism and academic misconduct

A reminder that Itu is running a series of sessions to help students and faculty understand the university policies to avoid plagiarism and academic misconduct.

Sessions for students (G3)

Thurs 3 May – 12:30pm – 1:00pm

Fri 11 May – 12:30pm – 1:00pm

Session for Faculty (Turn-it-in)

Thurs 3 May – 3:30pm – 4:00pm (following faculty meeting)

FROM THE STUDENT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Please enrol in your subjects for second session now, as the College is formulating class rolls and need to know class numbers for any timetable changes. If you require help with subject selection, please see Renee or Joanne, who can direct you to the relevant subject coordinator.

FROM THE LIBRARY

Referencing using Microsoft Word Workshop: Come and join in a 30 minute workshop on how to use the advanced functions in Microsoft Word to help you reference correctly in APA style.  Workshops will be run by the Library and held each week until end of term in the Library Computer Room at 4.30pm Mondays and Thursdays.  Handout included.

FROM THE FIRST YEAR MENTOR: REV SEFOROSA CARROLL

CSU Online Resources: CSU offer some valuable online resources – even a course titled “Introductions to learning online”. You can access online information about online forums, my CSU etc, as well as a brief overview of the learning online course, via: http://www.csu.edu.au/_data/assets/file/0011/126983/CSU-Online.swf

In addition, the Learning Skills webpage has information and resources on topics such as essay writing, time management, referencing, critical thinking, plagiarism etc. You can access this web page through:

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/studserv/my-studies/learning/home

I encourage you to become familiar with these resources. If you have any questions, or would like help navigating the web pages, please don't hesitate to contact me: phone 88388914 or email secarroll@csu.edu.au.

If you are already utilising these resources or will be in the future, I would be very interested in your feedback on how useful (or not) the online resources are and also whether or not the resources available are helpful for your studies.

In addition I encourage you to continue utilising the services of the Study Skills tutor, Carolyn Craig-Emilsen and the Library Confidence Facilitator, Adele Smith.

FROM THE CHAPEL

The college holds a service of Word and Sacrament every Wednesday at 11.45. This week’s lectionary readings: Acts 8:26-40, Ps 22:25-31, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Jn 15:1-8. All welcome.

FROM THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Following a request from students, the UTC Student Association recently asked if Uniting Venues could provide recycling bins in the student kitchen. Uniting Venues were pleased to do this as part of improving the environmental sustainability of the Centre for Ministry.

To ensure this important initiative is successful, students need to take care with the items they place in the recycling bins. Bottles, cans etc. need to be rinsed before being placed in the recycling bin. The paper recycling bin is only for clean, unsoiled paper, not paper that has been contaminated with food or oil (eg pizza boxes). Used paper towels and disposable cups are not suitable to place in the paper recycling bin.

This is also a good time to remind students that the cleanliness of the student kitchen is the responsibility of all students. Dishes used should be washed up by the user, not left for others to clean. Benches that become dirty should also be wiped clean.
Thank you for your help to make the Centre for Ministry a pleasant and sustainable place to study.

If you have any further enquires please contact a member of the Student Association Executive or Suzanne Stanton (Hospitality Committee).

Wednesday Community Lunches are held after the 11.45 Communion Service. Lunch is approx 1pm. Everyone is welcome to join students and staff in this activity. The cost is $40 per semester payable to John Barker, the treasurer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meditation is held in G2 at 1.00pm on Thursdays when classes are on.

ADVERTISING

Eremos Retreat Day “Where in the World is God?” In the light of new awaeness of the cosmos, is our way of envisaging God changing? Saturday 5 May 10am-4pm, Yaraandoo Retreat Centre,

28 Nollands Road

, Fiddletown (near Galston). Cost $60 ($70 for non-members) includes morning tea and lunch. Concession $10 less. Book online: http://www.eremos.org.au/. Enquiries: Janet 02 9314 6386 or email retreats@eremos.org.au.

University of NSW New College Lectures 2012, with Prof James K.A. Smith of Calvin College on “Imagining the Kingdom: On Christian Discipleship and Action”:

6.00pm Wed 23 May – Pre-Lecture Drinks and Canapes

7.30pm Wed 23 May – Talk 1 Erotic Comprehension: the Bodily Basis of Meaning

7.30pm Thu 24 May – Talk 2 Sanctified Perception: How Worship Works

Free Admission – registration essential. Register online: www.newcollege.unsw.edu/events

God Crucified? A Future for Jesus? To mark the 40^th anniversary of its publication, Jurgen Moltmann’s The Crucified God will be the focus of a two-day forum to be conducted at the Centre for Theology and Ministry in Melbourne (June 15-16, 2012). The forum will explore the future of the crucified God through a series of presentations on the theological themes tackled by Moltmann in his widely influential book. www.christologia.net/CrucifiedGod/index.html

Position Vacant: Family Worker (15 hours/week) St Andrew Uniting Church, South Turramurra. For more information contact the College Secretary or Val Weakley, (Ph 9144 7324 or email gbandvw@gmail.com)

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Our weekly eNewsletter is also posted on our utcnews blog. To follow or subscribe go to http://utcnews.blogspot.com/

The newsletter is from the College Secretary and Academic Vice-Principal. News items in by 1.00 pm each Friday to: suzannec@nsw.uca.org.au or gerardm@nsw.uca.org.au